Method and apparatus for loading and unloading flexographic plates for computer-to-plate imaging including separate loading and unloading areas

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority of and is a conversion of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/916,738 filed May 8, 2007 toinventors Wolterink, et al., titled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING ANDUNLOADING FLEXOGRAPHIC PLATES FOR COMPUTER-TO-PLATE IMAGING INCLUDINGSEPARATE LOADING AND UNLOADING AREAS. The contents of such provisionalpatent application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to printing, and specificallyto a method and an apparatus to aid the loading and unloading offlexographic plates to and from an imager.

BACKGROUND

Flexographic plates designed for computer-to-plate (CTP) imaging aretypically photopolymer plates that are pre-sensitized with a coatingsuch as a Laser Ablation Mask System (LAMS) coating that is ablated by alaser in an imager during imaging. The LAMS layer is typically highlysensitive and vulnerable before and after imaging, so that scratches maydestroy the flexographic plate and make it unusable.

It is known and the inventors have found that exposing a so-imaged platewith ultraviolet irradiation significantly reduces the hazard ofdamaging the flexographic plate, e.g., by scratching the plate. Theinventors also have found that alternatively so irradiating a plate withUV radiation prior to imaging also significantly reduces the hazard ofdamaging the flexographic plate, e.g., by scratching the plate.

There is thus an incentive to reduce the amount of handling to automatethe process of loading and unloading.

There also is an incentive to reduce the amount of time to load andunload a set of plates.

There also is an incentive to integrate irradiating plates with theprocess(es) of loading and/or unloading.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention include a method and an apparatusto aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from animager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or aplurality of flexographic plates and an unloading area holding a singleflexographic plate, the areas arranged vertically, and a control systemto control the automated loading and unloading mechanism. In oneversion, the loading includes automatically loading a plate onto theloading area, and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheetthereon, the automatic loading to the loading area includes removing theprotective sheet from the plate. One embodiment of the apparatus alsoincludes one or more sources of ultraviolet (UV) energy configured toirradiate flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation at some time ortimes during the process that includes loading and unloading, andcontrolled by a control system. One arrangement includes UV radiatingprior to the plates being imaged, and another arrangement includes UVradiating after the imaging, and yet a third embodiment includes UVradiation of the underside of the plate prior to imaging, and UVradiating the top side after imaging.

Particular embodiments include an apparatus for loading printing platescomprising a frame, an imager configured for imaging a plate, a loadingarea configured to hold at least one plate that is to be loaded on tothe imager, the holding of a to-be-loaded plate being at a loadingposition, and an unloading area separate from the loading area. Theapparatus further comprises a control system configure to control theloading of a particular plate from the loading position on to theimager, the imaging of the loaded plate to form an imaged plate, and theunloading of the imaged plate onto the unloading area. The apparatus isconfigured such that while one plate is positioned at the loadingposition on the loading area, another plate can be unloaded from theimager or be situated at the unloading area.

In some embodiments, the loading and unloading areas are arranged in amanner that enables a first plate to be on the loading area whileanother plate is simultaneously at the unloading area. For example, inone embodiment, the imager is a drum imager includes a rotatable drum,each of the loading area and unloading area are approximatelyhorizontal, and the loading and unloading areas are arranged verticallyto each other.

In some embodiment, the apparatus further comprises one or more sourcesof ultraviolet energy configured to irradiate a plate with ultravioletradiation at one or more intervals of time during the process thatincludes loading and unloading the plate, such that a plate thatincludes material that is curable by irradiation with ultravioletradiation can be cured by one or more of the sources of ultravioletenergy.

Particular embodiments include a method comprising loading a printingplate from a loading area on to an imager. The printing plate includesmaterial that is curable by irradiation with ultraviolet radiation. Themethod further includes imaging the loaded printing plate, and unloadingthe printing plate from the imager. The method further comprisesautomatically irradiating the printing plate by ultraviolet radiationprior to or after the imaging.

Particular embodiments include an apparatus for making printing platescomprising means for loading a printing plate from a loading area on toan imager. The printing plate includes material that is curable byirradiation with ultraviolet radiation. The apparatus further includesmeans for imaging the loaded printing plate; means unloading theprinting plate from the imager; and means for automatically irradiatingthe printing plate by ultraviolet radiation prior to or after theimaging. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprising a loadingarea and an unloading area. The loading and unloading areas are arrangedin a manner that enables a first plate to be on the loading area whileanother plate is simultaneously at the unloading area. In someembodiments, the loading area and the unloading area are arranged oneabove the other, and the apparatus further comprises at least oneultraviolet source arranged under the loading area and at least oneultraviolet source arranged under the unloading area.

Particular embodiments include a printing plate that has material thatis curable by irradiation with ultraviolet radiation and that isobtained according to a method for making printing plates comprising thesteps of: loading a printing plate from a loading area on to an imager;imaging the loaded printing plate; and unloading the printing plate fromthe imager. The method further comprising automatically irradiating theprinting plate by ultraviolet radiation prior to or after the imaging.

Particular embodiments may provide all, some, or none of these aspects,features, or advantages. Particular embodiments may provide one or moreother aspects, features, or advantages, one or more of which may bereadily apparent to a person skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a system that includes an external drumimager for flexographic plates or photopolymer letterpress plates, and aloader that includes a loading area and an unloading area each forholding a single plate.

FIG. 2A shows the system of FIG. 1 in simplified form according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows the region marked A in FIG. 2A in magnified form.

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a grabber mechanismincluded in an embodiment of the system.

FIG. 3B shows an end view labeled C in FIG. 3A of the grabber mechanismembodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform in which the imager is represented only by the drum. FIG. 4B showsa magnified view of the region labeled D in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the imager with the frontedge of a plate in the gap between the clamp and the outer surface ofthe drum.

FIG. 6 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of the imager in aposition of a plate loaded onto the surface.

FIG. 7 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of the imager in aposition with the front suction cups in contact with a plate next to therear edge of the plate.

FIG. 8 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of the imager witha plate removed and the clamp closed.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of the system witha plate in such that the combination of the rear set of suctions cupsand air injectors are tilted up so that the rear edge of the plate ispicked up from the unloading area.

FIG. 10A shows an end view of an embodiment of the system with a platein the unloaded position after automated unloading. FIG. 10B shows amagnified view of the region marked D in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the loader. FIG.11B shows the region denoted by G in FIG. 11A magnified.

FIG. 12A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform where the imager is only represented by the drum, and includes afirst embodiment of an ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 12B shows thearea marked I in FIG. 12A magnified.

FIG. 13A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform where the imager is only represented by the drum, and includes asecond embodiment of an ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 13B shows thearea marked I in FIG. 13A magnified.

FIG. 14A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform where the imager is only represented by the drum, and includes athird embodiment of an ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 14B shows thearea marked I in FIG. 14A magnified.

FIG. 15A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform where the imager is only represented by the drum, and includes afourth embodiment of an ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 15B shows thearea marked I of FIG. 15A magnified.

FIG. 16A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform where the imager is only represented by the drum, and includes afifth embodiment of an ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 16B shows thearea marked I of FIG. 16A magnified.

FIG. 17A shows a side view of an embodiment of the system in simplifiedform where the imager is only represented by the drum, and includes asixth embodiment of an ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 17B shows thearea marked I in FIG. 17A magnified.

FIG. 18 shows a simplified diagram of an embodiment of a system thatincludes an element operative to carry out automatic loading.

FIG. 19 shows a simplified diagram with the position of the platehandler of the embodiment of FIG. 18 after a plate has been moved ontothe loading position on a loading area.

FIGS. 20A-20Y respectively correspond to FIGS. 5A-5Y of U.S. Pat. No.7,000,543 and show a sequence of automatic loading onto a loading area,and the automatic removal of the protective sheet aspects of oneembodiment the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention describes an apparatus, method, and system forautomated plate loading, imaging and unloading of plates that haveultraviolet curable material, and further a process step that includesultraviolet irradiation of the plates.

The description herein will be for flexographic plates that typicallyare made of ultraviolet curable polymer material. The invention ishowever applicable to any type of plate that has material that iscurable by ultraviolet energy. Examples include flexographic plates andletterpress plates that include photopolymer material.

One feature of the invention is including two separate areas, one forloading a plate and one for unloading a plate. Having such separateareas means that during imaging of a flexographic plate on the imager,in some embodiments, the next plate for loading onto the drum can beprepared including moving onto the loading area, and in someembodiments, irradiating the underside of the plate. Furthermore, insome embodiments, at the same time, the previously imaged plate that wasunloaded from the drum can be in the middle of being unloaded, and/or insome embodiments, be irradiated with ultraviolet radiation. In someembodiments, one or more of (a) the preparing for loading, includingmoving onto the loading area, the (b) continuing with the unloading,and/or the irradiating can occur while (c) the next plate is imaged bythe imager. Such a pipelined system reduces the extensive downtime thatoccurs by loading, unloading, irradiating and imaging using an imager.

Flexographic plates designed for CTP imaging are typically photopolymerplates that are pre-sensitized with a coating such as a Laser AblationMask System (LAMS) coating that is ablated by a laser in an imagerduring imaging. The LAMS layer is typically highly sensitive andvulnerable before and after imaging, so that scratches may destroy theflexographic plate and make it unusable. It is known and the inventorshave found that exposing a so-imaged plate with ultraviolet irradiationsignificantly reduces the hazard of damaging the flexographic plate,e.g., by scratching the plate. The inventors also have found thatalternatively so irradiating a plate with UV radiation prior to imagingalso significantly reduces the hazard of damaging the flexographicplate, e.g., by scratching the plate.

Some embodiments of the present invention include integrating anultraviolet source subsystem including one or more ultraviolet sourceswith the loading and unloading, the ultraviolet source subsystemsconfigured to expose the flexographic plate to ultraviolet radiation onone side, or another side, or both sides of the plate. By so integratingthe irradiating with the loading and unloading into an automated processsuch that the vulnerability of plates to damage by manual operation isreduced.

Another feature of some embodiments of the invention is reducing theprocess time for flexographic plate making by having a pipeline thatcarries out more than one operation on more than one plate at the sametime.

Embodiments of the invention further include automated loading of theplate onto the loading area, automated loading from the loading areaonto the drum, and automated unloading of the plates to reduce the needto handle the plates by an operator.

One embodiment of the invention includes a semi-automated loader of aplate. In the case of a semi-automated arrangement, an operator manuallyloads and positions a plate on the loader at a loading position on theloading area. In the case that a protective sheet is included on theplate, the operator also removes the protective sheet. The remainder ofthe process: loading the plate onto the imager from the loadingposition, imaging the plate on the imager according to imaging data, andunloading of the plate is carried out automatically under control of acontrol system. In the case ultraviolet irradiation is includes, suchirradiating also is automatic under control of the control system.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a fully automated loader.In the case of such an automated arrangement, a mechanism picks up aplate, e.g., from a stack of plates or on another embodiment, from acompartment of a magazine of plate compartments, places the picked upplate to a loading position on the loading area, in the case that aprotective sheet is included on the plate, removes the protective sheet.The remainder of the process is basically the same as in thesemi-automated loader embodiment: the loading of the plate onto theimager from the loading position, imaging the plate on the imageraccording to imaging data, and unloading of the plate is also carriedout automatically.

Some semi-automatic loading embodiments and some fully automatic loadingembodiments, include one or more UV irradiation subsystems integratedand configured to expose the plate to UV radiation in a fully automaticmanner under control of the control system. The irradiation in one setof embodiments is of to-be-imaged plates, and occurs, e.g., duringloading. The irradiation in another set of embodiments is of an imagedplate, and occurs, e.g., during unloading. The irradiation in anotherset of embodiments occurs, during loading and unloading.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a system 100 that includes an externaldrum imager 101 for flexographic plates (or photopolymer letterpressplates) and a novel loader that includes a loading area and an unloadingarea each for holding a single plate. The loading area and the unloadingarea are each approximately horizontal and arranged vertically to eachother. In the example embodiment described herein, the unloading area isunder the loading area. Those in the art will understand that“approximately horizontal” in this context means that any tilt fromhorizontal is such that a plate placed on the loading or unloading arewill not simply slide away.

One embodiment of the imager 101 includes a rotatable drum 102 forloading a flexographic plate 104 thereon. A door mechanism 103 providesaccess to the drum for loading and unloading and is closed duringimaging. In order to show the drum in FIG. 1, the door mechanism 103 isshown in its open position. The imager 101 includes at least one lasersource that provides one or more laser beams modulated by imaging data,e.g., sets of data for each of a plurality of color separations forexposing the respective plates for a color print. Each laser isconfigured for exposing CTP flexographic plates, e.g., has theappropriate energy and wavelength for exposing the particular type ofcoating, e.g., type of LAMS coating on the flexographic plates. Anexample of one such flexographic imager 101 is the Esko-Graphics Cyrel™Digital Imager (Esko-Graphics, Gent, Belgium) made by Esko-Graphics, theassignee of the present invention.

In order not to obscure the inventive aspects, the novel loader is shownin FIG. 1 in simplified form.

In one embodiment, the novel loader includes a frame 109, a horizontalloading area 106 and a horizontal unloading area 107, each of theloading and unloading area designed for holding a single flexographicplate. One feature of the invention is that the loading and unloadingareas are separate so that while one plate is positioned at the loadingposition on the loading area 106, another plate can be unloaded orsituated at the unloading area 107. In the embodiment shown, theunloading area 107 is arranged vertically beneath the loading area 106.FIG. 1 shows a plate 104 on the loading area 106 and another plate inthe unloading area 107.

One feature of an embodiment of the invention is the automatic loadingof a plate onto the drum from the loading area 106, and another featureis the automatic unloading of a plate, e.g., an imaged plate from thedrum onto the unloading area 107. Another feature of some embodiments isthe automatic positioning of single plate from a stack of plates or amagazine of compartments of plates onto the loading area 106 andautomatic removal of any protective coversheet from the top of the plateduring positioning onto the loading area 106 or during loading onto thedrum.

Another feature of an embodiment of the invention is the automaticexposure of the plate to light, e.g., to UV-radiation, in one versionduring positioning onto the loading area 106, in other embodiments,during loading onto the drum or during unloading onto the unloading areaor when lying on the unloading area, or during more than one of thesephases. The loading, unloading, automatic positioning when included andUV features are controlled under control of the control system 110.

The edge of the plate parallel to the drum axis and closest to theimager when the plate is in the horizontal position is called the frontedge, and that furthest from the imager is called the rear edge.

FIG. 2A shows the system in simplified form, and FIG. 2B shows theregion marked A in magnified form. These drawings show the imager isreduced to the drum 102 that includes an automated clamp 113, e.g., aT-shaped clamp as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,492 to Koberg, et al.titled METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CLAMP AND RELEASE FLEXIBLE PLATES ONTO ANIMAGING CYLINDER. The loading area 106 includes two parts: a frontloading part 112 which is closest to the drum and a rear loading part111 which is horizontally arranged on the rear side opposite to the oneclosest to the drum. In one embodiment, the front loading part 112 ishingeably connected by a hinge mechanism 131 to the rear loading part111 and can be tilted along the front part's rear edge 133 to rotateabout an axis shown as Z. Tilting downwards causes its front edge to belowered towards the surface of drum. By the front loading part 112 beingclosed is meant the front loading part 112 co-planar with the rearloading part 106. The front loading part 111 is so closed duringimaging, and, as described below, can be tilted at the hinge edge 133 sothat the front edge of a plate thereon is moved towards the drum surfaceas part of loading. The front and rear loading parts 112 and 111together form the loading area 106.

The system further includes a grabber mechanism 108. FIG. 3A shows aperspective view and FIG. 3B an end view labeled C of the grabbermechanism 108 that includes a first set of vacuum cups (also calledsuction cups) 120 arranged in the front (drum) side, a second set ofvacuum cups (also called suction cups) 121 arranged in the rear side(away from the drum), and a set of air injectors 122 also arranged inthe rear side. There is a supply of vacuum 135 that is controllable bythe control system 110 to turn on or off vacuum to the first set ofvacuum cups 120 closest to the imager, and to turn on or off vacuum tothe second rear set of vacuum cups 121 under control of the controlsystem 110. The same supply 135 also is used in one embodiment to turnon or off a supply of air to the rear air injectors 122, again undercontrol of the control system 110. The supply 135 is shown in symbolicform in FIG. 3A. Furthermore, those in the art will understand thatthere are valves and supply hoses included for such function, and suchdetails are not shown in the drawings in order not to obscure theinventive aspects of the example embodiment. The grabber mechanism ofFIGS. 3A and 3B is movable under control of the control system 110 inthe horizontal direction. The direction towards the drum, towards whichthe first set of vacuum cups 120 point is called front direction and thedirection away from the drum is called rear direction. Also the rearvacuum cups 121 and the rear air injectors 122 are hinged to the grabbermechanism and can be tilted along the axis labeled Z in FIG. 3A, undercontrol of the control system 110.

FIG. 4A shows a side view of the system 100 in simplified form in whichthe imager is represented only by the drum. FIG. 4B shows a magnifiedview of the region labeled D. The door mechanism 103 and the frontloading part 112 are shown in the in closed position in which the frontloading part is co-planar with the rear loading part to form the loadingarea 106. A plate 104 is shown thereon. The drum 102 is shown afterbeing moved under control of the control system 110 to a loadingposition wherein the automated clamp 113 is in an upright position andis closed. The loading position is configured so that when the clamp 113is opened, e.g., raised relative to the drum surface to form a gapbetween the clamp and the drum surface, the front edge of a plate can bemoved into the gap region between the clamp and the drum surface. When aplate 104 with any protective coversheet removed is positioned in aplate loading position such that the front edge of the plate 104 ispositioned directly against the edge of the door mechanism 103, thecontrol system in operation causes the door mechanism 103 to move to anopen position and causes the front loading part 112 to tilt down bycounterclockwise rotation in the views shown, with the plate 104 and itsfront edge thereon. The control system in operation causes the automatedclamp 113 to open and the drum is positioned so that one side of theclamp 113 is directly over the front edge of plate 104, i.e., the frontedge of the plate is in the gap between the clamp 113 and the drumsurface. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the imager with the front edge ofthe plate 104 in the gap between the clamp 113 and the outer surface ofthe drum 102 so that closing the clamp 113 would clamp the front edge ofthe plate onto the drum.

The control system 110 in operation next causes the automated clamp 113to close to clamp the front edge of the plate onto the drum. The controlsystem 110 in operation next causes a vacuum on the drum surface to beturned on and the drum 102 to be rotated in the counterclockwisedirection by one turn. During such rotation of the drum 102, the plate104 slides from the loading area 106 onto the outer surface drum and isheld thereto by the vacuum grooves on the drum surface. In the example,assume the plate has a length approximately equal to the circumferenceof the outer surface of the drum. The control system 110 in operation,after the rotation of the drum, causes the automated clamp 113 to openso that the rear edge of the plate can fall, and does fall in the gapbetween the automated clamp 113 and the outer drum surface. The controlsystem 110 in operation then causes the automated clamp 113 to close sothat the plate 104 is mounted onto the drum. The control system 110 inoperation also then causes the front loading part 112 to tilt back in aclockwise direction until it is co-planar with the rear loading part111, and also causes the door mechanism 103 to be closed. FIG. 6 shows asimplified side view of the imager in this position of the plate loadedonto the surface. In this example, the plate is now ready for imaging.The imager then images the plate by imaging data as is typical in suchan imager.

After the plate is imaged, continuing with the illustrative example, themethod includes the automated unloading of the imaged plate undercontrol of the control system 110. Assume the position after imaging isalso as shown in FIG. 6 with the plate 104 positioned onto the drum. Forunloading, the control system 110 in operation causes the drum 102 to bepositioned in a pre-defined unloading position. The control system 110in operation causes the grabber mechanism 108 to move horizontal to thedrum 102 to a plate unloading position in which the set of front suctioncups 120 are directly in contact with the plate next to the rear edge ofplate 104. FIG. 7 shows a simplified side view of the imager in thisposition with the front suction cups 120 in contact with the plate nextto the rear edge of the plate 104. The control system 110 in operationcauses vacuum to be supplied to the set of front suction cups 120 andalso causes the automated clamp 113 to open. The control system 110 inoperation causes the drum to be rotated clockwise while at the same timecausing the grabber mechanism to move back horizontally with the rearedge of the plate 104 held thereto by the front set of suction cups 120at a speed proportional to the rotational speed of the drum. When thedrum has rotated sufficiently, the control system 110 in operationcauses the grabber mechanism to continue moving so that the rear edge ofthe plate 104 is removed from the gap between the opened automated clamp113 and the outer surface of the drum. The control system 110 inoperation then causes the automated clamp 113 to close. FIG. 8 shows asimplified side view with the plate 104 removed and the clamp so closed.

The control system 110 in operation then causes the vacuum to be turnedoff from the front suction cups 120. As a result, the rear edge of theplate 104 falls down onto the unloading area 107. The control system 110in operation causes the grabber mechanism to move horizontally in thedirection towards the drum 102 to a position in which the rear set ofsuction cups 121 is positioned over the rear edge of the plate 104. Atthis position, the control system 110 in operation causes the vacuumsupply to the rear suctions cups 121 to be turned on, and the air supplyto the air injectors 122 is also turned on. The control system 110 inoperation also causes the combination of the suction cups 121 andinjectors 122 to tilt down towards the surface of the plate 104 untilthe vacuum cups are directly in contact with the surface of the platenext to the rear edge of plate 104. The control system 110 in operationthen causes the combination of the rear set of suctions cups 121 and airinjectors 122 to tilted up so that the rear edge of the plate 104 ispicked up from the unloading area 107. FIG. 9 shows a simplified sideview of the system with the plate in this position.

The control system 110 in operation then causes the drum 102 to berotated in a clockwise direction and at the same time the grabbermechanism 108 to move in the direction towards the rear direction untilthe automated clamp 113 of the drum 102 is in the upright position. Thecontrol system 110 in operation cause the grabber mechanism 108 tocontinue moving in the rear direction until it reaches and stops at theend of the frame 109. Simultaneously, while the automated clamp 113 ofdrum 102 is in its upright position, the control system 110 in operationcauses the automated clamp 113 to open. The control system 110 inoperation causes, once the grabber mechanism is at the end of the frame,the vacuum to the rear suction cups to turn off, and the air to the rearair injectors 122 to be off. As a result, the rear edge of plate 104falls down onto the unloading table 107. The plate 104 is thusautomatically unloaded to an unloaded position on the unloading table107. FIG. 10A shows an end view of the system with the plate 104 in theunloaded position after such automated unloading. FIG. 10B shows amagnified view of the region marked D in FIG. 10A that includes thegrabber mechanism and the rear end of the unloaded plate.

One embodiment of the system further includes one or more irradiatorsubsystems configured to irradiate the plate with ultraviolet radiation.Irradiating plates that have a sensitized coating such as a LAMS coatingwith ultraviolet radiation is known in the art. One embodiment of thesystem includes an irradiator subsystem configured to irradiate theplate from the back side, such a process called back exposure herein,and another embodiment of the system includes an irradiator subsystemconfigured to irradiate the plate from the top side, such an irradiationprocess called main exposure herein. One embodiment includes elementsthat carry out both main exposure and back exposure.

FIG. 11A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the novel loaderincluding an ultraviolet source subsystem, in this version a set of UVsources 200 configured to irradiate the flexographic plate with ultraviolet radiation. The ultraviolet source subsystem is controlled by thecontrol system 110. FIG. 11B shows the region denoted by G magnified.

Note that FIGS. 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A and 17A each show an end view inthe direction denoted H in FIG. 11A of a different embodiment in whichthe respective ultraviolet source subsystem has different alternateconfigurations in order to illustrate the way the ultraviolet sourcesubsystem is configured may be different in different versions.

FIG. 12A shows a side view of the system in simplified form where theimager is only represented by the drum, and includes a first embodimentof the ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 12B shows the area marked Imagnified. This embodiment includes a plurality of UV sources 200arranged under the unloading area 107. The unloading area 107 includesultraviolet translucent material 201 between plate 104 and the UV source200. As the plate 104 is unloaded automatically under control of thecontrol system 110, the plate is positioned directly over the pluralityof UV sources 200. The control system 110 is configured in operation tocause the plate to be exposed for a programmable amount of time for backexposure, and, after the back exposure is complete, to cause the grabbermechanism to pick the plate up automatically and to move the plate tothe unloading position.

FIG. 13A shows a side view of the system in simplified form where theimager is only represented by the drum, and includes a second embodimentof the ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 13B shows the area marked I inFIG. 13A magnified. In FIGS. 13A and 13B, the ultraviolet sourcesubsystem includes a first plurality of UV sources 200 positioned to beunder the unloading area 107 and a second plurality of UV sources 202over the plate 104 lying on the unloading area 107. This secondplurality of UV sources 202 is used for main exposure of the plate 104after unloading. In one embodiment, the control system 110 is configuredin operation to cause the plate 104 on the unloading area 107 to beirradiated from the top and also from the bottom after its automaticunloading from the drum for respective programmable amounts of time onthe top and bottom.

FIG. 14A shows a side view of the system in simplified form where theimager is only represented by the drum, and includes a third embodimentof the ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 14B shows the area marked I inFIG. 14A magnified. FIGS. 14A and 14B show ultraviolet source subsystemwith a plurality of UV sources 204 between plate 104 on unloading area107 and loading area 106. The loading area 106 under plate 104 includesultraviolet translucent material 203. The control system is configuredin operation to cause a first plate 104 on the loading area 106 to beirradiated from the back side prior to the plate being loaded, while atthe same time to irradiate a different, already imaged plate on theunloading system from that imaged plates top side. In an alternateversion, the same plate 104 is loaded automatically onto the loadingarea 106 and irradiated from its back side by the set of sources 204,then loaded automatically onto the drum 102, then removed to theunloading area where it is irradiated from the top for a programmableamount of time, all under control of the control system 110.

FIG. 15A shows a side view of the system in simplified form where theimager is only represented by the drum, and includes a fourth embodimentof the ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 15B shows the area marked I ofFIG. 15A magnified. FIGS. 15A and 15B show a system with an ultravioletsource subsystem that includes one UV source 200 under the unloadingarea 107. The unloading area 107 includes translucent material 201 overthe UV source 200. The control system in operation causes the UV sourceto be on while the plate 104 is moved over the source at a speedprogrammed so that each part of the plate is exposed from the back sidefor a required amount of time to provide adequate back exposure.

FIG. 16A shows a side view of the system in simplified form where theimager is only represented by the drum, and includes a fifth embodimentof the ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 16B shows the area marked I ofFIG. 16A magnified. FIGS. 16A and 16B shows an ultraviolet sourcesubsystem that includes one UV source 206 under loading area 106configured to be able to irradiate a plate from the plate's top whilethe plate is passing under it. The ultraviolet source subsystem alsoincludes a second UV source 200 under the unloading area 107, such anunloading area 107 including translucent material 201 over the UV source200. The control system in operation causes the UV sources 206 and 200to be on while the plate 104 is moved under the source 206 and over thesource 200 at a speed programmed so that each part of the plate isexposed from the back side for a required amount of time to provideadequate back exposure and from the top to provide adequate mainexposure.

FIG. 17A shows a side view of the system in simplified form where theimager is only represented by the drum, and includes a sixth embodimentof the ultraviolet source subsystem. FIG. 17B shows the area marked I inFIG. 17A magnified. FIGS. 17A and 17B show an ultraviolet sourcesubsystem that includes one UV source 208 under loading area 106 wherethe loading area 106 includes translucent material 203 over the UVsource 208. The control system is configured in operation to cause afirst plate 104 moving on the loading area 106 while loading to beirradiated from the back side prior to the plate being loaded. Thecontrol system is configured in operation also to cause an imaged plateto be irradiated from its top during automated unloading. The speeds ofmotion are programmed so that adequate back exposure is provided to aplate prior to imaging, and so that adequate main exposure is providedfrom the same source 208 to the plate after imaging.

While one set of embodiments is for what is called herein semi-automaticoperation according to which a plate is brought to the loading area 106manually, another set of embodiments is for what is called hereinfully-automatic operation according to which the placing of a plate ontothe loading area 106 is automated. In one fully automatic embodiment, amechanism under control of the control system 110 picks up a plate froma stack of plates, places the picked up plate at a loading position onthe loading area 106, and in the case that a protective sheet isincluded on the plate, removes the protective sheet.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a system that includes an elementoperative to carry out automatic loading. The system includes a platehandler 300 controlled by the control system 110 configured to grab aplate 104 from a stack of plates 301 and to move the plate to theloading position on the loading area 106. The plate handler 300 also isconfigured to remove, under control of the control system 110, theprotective sheet from the top of the plate 104 in the case the plate hassuch a protective sheet.

FIG. 19 shows the position of the plate handler 300 after the plate hasbeen moved onto the loading position on the loading area 106.

How to carry out the automatic loading of the plate and further how toremove the protective sheet from the top of the plate is described—in aslightly different configuration from that shown in FIGS. 18 and 19—inU.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 to Klein, et al. titled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORLOADING AND UNLOADING FLEXOGRAPHIC PLATES FOR COMPUTER-TO-PLATE IMAGING.The contents of such U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 are incorporated herein byreference.

The device in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 includes, rather than a stack ofplates, a plate magazine containing a plurality of flexographic plates.One embodiment can contain at least 10 plates, e.g., about 20 plates.The magazine of one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 includes aplurality of compartments, one compartment for each plate. Eachflexographic plate is pre-loaded in its own compartment, e.g., withoutthe separation sheet that may have been used between plates in a stackof flexographic plates. In one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543applicable also to an embodiment of the present invention, theprotective sheet remains over the LAMS coating. In one version, theprotective sheet is removed directly prior to the plate being mounted onthe drum. In another embodiment, the protective sheet is partiallyremoved prior to the loading, but is mostly still on top of eachflexographic plate. The removal of the rest of the protective sheetoccurs automatically at the same time as the mounting.

In one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 applicable also to anembodiment of the present invention, the magazine includes a frame and aset of compartments arranged vertically, each compartment designed forholding a single flexographic plate. The compartments are movable up anddown. A lifting mechanism is configured to lift and lower thecompartments under control of the control system 110. Initially, each ofthe compartments is at its respective rest vertical position and acommon rest horizontal position. In one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No.7,000,543 applicable also to an embodiment of the present invention, thelifting mechanism moves one compartment at a time vertically between itsrest vertical position and a loading vertical position at which thecompartment is at a height at which the compartment is horizontallymovable back and forth from the rest horizontal position to a loadinghorizontal position flush with a loading area 106. The lifting mechanism104 further can move each compartment at the rest horizontal position upand down from and to the loading vertical position to and from arespective imaged vertical position.

In one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 applicable also to anembodiment of the present invention, there is a movable horizontalbottom panel 332 that when moved beneath the horizontal area 106provides an opening for access from below the loading area 106.

In one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 applicable also to anembodiment of the present invention, includes the automatic loading of aplate onto the loading area 106 from the magazine and then, as describedabove onto the drum, and another aspect is the automatic removal of aprotective sheet from the top of the plate during the loading onto theloading area 106 and drum. These aspects are controlled under control ofthe control system 110.

For embodiments such as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 that do not include themagazine with a single plate in each compartment, but rather are forpicking up a plate from a stack of plates 301, the grabber mechanismdescribed herein and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 can be readily adaptedto remove a plate from a stack of plates rather than from a compartment.The description below, however, assumes a compartment from the magazine.How to modify the description below to operate for removal from a stackas shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 would be clear to those in the art.

For example, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the platehandler 300 not only is movable horizontally towards and away from theimager, but also can move vertically to accommodate the height of thestack of plates. In one embodiment, the horizontal movement is by one ormore motors under control of the control system 110, and the verticalmovement of the plate handler 300 is hydraulic using at least onepiston, under control of the control system 110.

The system in a “fully automatic” embodiment includes a first grabbermechanism 335 that includes a section 333 to maintain the platehorizontal, and that includes a grabber set of vacuum suction cupsarranged as a row. In the compartment version that is described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,000,543, when the compartment is at its loading horizontalposition flush with a loading area 106, the control system 110 isconfigured in operation to cause the first mechanism with the grabberset of suction cups to grab the plate with the protective sheet on topand to move the plate and sheet away from the compartment (or stack inthe stack of plates version) towards the drum on the loading area 106,such that the edge of the plate and protective sheet is above theopening formed by moving away a bottom panel 332.

When the plate is at the intermediate position over the opening 307, thecontrol system in operation causes the first mechanism 335 to let go ofand move away from the protective sheet and plate. In particular, thefirst mechanism rotates such that the edge of the plate may be bent awayfrom the surface 106. The part 333 of the grabber mechanism 335maintains the adjacent part of the plate and protective sheethorizontal.

One embodiment includes a bending device that in one embodiment includesa wheel that rolls against the edge of the plate and moves back andforth across the plate edge. This bends a part, e.g., approximately 10mm of the end of the plate and protective sheet to an angle that isadjustable to between 30 and 90 degrees, depending on the plate type.The bending device moves back and forth across the plate edge betweenone and three times depending on the plate type. The purpose of thebending by the bending device is to loosen the protective sheet from theplate at the edge region. Otherwise, the protective sheet tends to stickheavily to the LAMS coating. The bending device might also be aknife-type device instead of a wheel.

At this stage, the control system 110 is configured in operation tocause the first mechanism 335 that includes the grabber set of suctioncups arranged as a row to move onto the protective sheet along the widthin the strip area separated from the plate. Also at this stage, thecontrol system causes a second mechanism that includes another set ofvacuum holders (suction cups) arranged as a row to move to be under theedge of the plate through the opening around the loading area 106. Theorder of the moving is not important, i.e., whether the top protectivesheet or the bottom of the plate is held first. Vacuum is applied to thefirst and second set of vacuum holders. The second set maintains theplate at the horizontal surface, while the first mechanism lifts, e.g.,by tilting tilts the protective sheet away from the plate.

In one embodiment, the grabber set of suction cups of the firstmechanism is arranged relative to the other set of suction cups suchthat the top (grabber set) suction cups are interleaved with the bottom(the other set) suction cups. However, the inventors discovered that themechanisms still cooperate to produce the desired result, albeit not aswell, even when the top and bottom sets of suction cups are not sointerleaved, e.g., are positioned at the same location when respectivelyadhering to the protective sheet and to the bottom of the plate. Thus,the invention is not restricted to the interleaving of the grabber setand other set of suction cups.

The control system 110 in operation causes the vacuum to the bottom setof suction cups to be removed, and the second mechanism of the other set(the bottom set) of suction cups to move away. The movable panel 332 nowmoves back to close the opening to form a substantially horizontalsurface.

The grabber mechanism 335 with the vacuum holders holding the protectivesheet now slides the plate and protective sheet towards the drum undercontrol of the control system 110.

Once the plate edge is located at the loading area 106, and, asdescribed above, clamped to the drum, two actions occur. The firstmechanism moves horizontally back to its horizontal rest position closeto being over the movable part 332. The first set of suction cupsmaintains hold onto the protective sheet such that the sheet ispartially peeled away.

The protective sheet is now transported to a trash compartment.

In one embodiment, an anti-static device in the form of a wire acrossthe width of the plate is included to remove static electricity from thecombination of the plate and protective cover during the removal of theprotective cover from the drum and automatic loading onto the drum. Thisensures easier removal of the protective cover compared to when noanti-static device is used.

The unloading process proceeds in the reverse, except, of course, thatthere is now no protective sheet on top of the plate.

FIGS. 20A-20Y correspond to FIGS. 5A-5Y of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543 andshow the sequence of the automatic loading onto the loading area 106,and the automatic removal of the protective sheet aspects of oneembodiment the invention. These aspects are controlled under control ofthe control system 110.

FIG. 20A shows a first perspective view of a first mechanism 335 thatincludes a grabber set of suction cups gripping a plate 104 with aprotective sheet 303 thereon. An adjacent section 333 maintains thecombination of plate and protective sheet horizontal. The flexible pipesfrom the suction cups to an included source of vacuum are not shown soas not to obscure the views of how the automatic loader and protectivesheet unloader operate. Only the bolts 305 of the grabber set of suctioncups are shown. A movable part 332 of the loading area 106 is shownmoved way to leave an opening 307 for the loading area 106.

Also shown is a bending device 309 that includes a roller 311. Thebending device is movable across the width of the opening 307 back andforth in the direction shown by arrow 313.

FIG. 20B shows another perspective view that provides a better view ofthe bottom of the loading area 106 in the vicinity of the opening 307.This view shows a second mechanism 315 that includes another set ofsuction cups—the suction cups have reference numeral 317 in FIG. 20B.The suction cups are connected to a vacuum source (not shown) via pipes,one of which is shown as pipe 319. The second mechanism is hinged athinge 320 to rotate such that the suction cups may grab the bottom ofthe plate when the plate is over the opening 307 of the loading area106.

FIG. 20C shows the view of FIG. 20B while the plate is being movedhorizontally out of its cassette (e.g., cassette 113 not shown) whilethe cassette is in its vertical loading position and its horizontalloading position.

FIG. 20D shows the plate 104 with the protective sheet and sheet away atthe location such that the edge of the plate and protective sheet isabove the opening 307 formed by moving away panel 332.

When the plate is at the intermediate position over the opening 307, thefirst mechanism 335 lets go of the plate, i.e., the vacuum is shut off,and the mechanism 335 moves away from the plate, in particular rotatessuch that the edge of the plate may be bent away from the plane of thesurface of loading area 106. FIG. 20E shows a perceptive view with thefirst mechanism 335 moved such that the end edge of the plate 104 andprotective sheet 303 may be so bent.

The bending device 309 that in one embodiment includes a wheel 311 thatrolls against the edge of the plate now moves back and forth across theplate edge in the direction 313. This bends approximately 10 mm of theend of the plate and protective sheet to an angle that is adjustable tobetween 30 and 90 degrees, depending on the plate type. The adjacentsection 333 maintains the adjacent part of the plate and protectivesheet horizontal during the bending. The bending device moves back andforth across the plate edge between one and three times depending on theplate type. The purpose of the bending by the bending device is toloosen the protective sheet from the plate at the edge region.Otherwise, the protective sheet tends to stick heavily to the LAMScoating.

FIGS. 20F, 20G, 20H, and 20I show this back and forth action. In onealternate implementation, the suction cups of the grabber hold the plate104 and cover 303 during bending a distance away from the edge so thatthe plate cannot slip in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 20J shows that at this stage, the first mechanism 335 that includesthe grabber set of suction cups arranged as a row moves onto theprotective sheet 303 along the width in the strip area separated fromthe plate. FIG. 20K shows a different perspective view that shows thesecond mechanism 315 that includes the other set of suction cups 317arranged as a row. At this stage, as shown in FIGS. 20L and 20M, thesecond mechanism 315 moves by rotation such that the other set ofsuction cups is under the edge of the plate 104 through the opening 307in the loading area 106. The order of the moving is not important, i.e.,whether the top protective sheet or the bottom of plate 104 is heldfirst, as shown in the sequence of FIGS. 20J to 20M, or in a differentorder. Vacuum is applied to the first and other sets of vacuum holders.

The other set of suction cups maintains the plate at the horizontalsurface, while the first mechanism 335 lifts, e.g., by tilting, to tiltthe protective sheet 303 at the edge away from the plate 104. FIG. 20Nshows the results of such moving of the protective sheet 303 away fromthe plate 104.

The vacuum to the bottom other set of suction cups 317 is removed, andthe second mechanism 315 of the other set of suction cups is moved away.FIG. 20O shows the suction cups 317 of the second mechanism 317 so movedaway.

FIGS. 20P, 20Q and 20R show the movable panel 332 now moving to closethe opening 307 to form a substantially horizontal surface. The surfaceof area 106 is shown closed in FIG. 20R.

The grabbing mechanism 335 with the vacuum holders still holding theprotective sheet now slides the plate 104 and protective sheet 303towards the drum 103. Such movement is shown in FIGS. 20S, 20T, 20U and20V.

Note that in FIGS. 20S, 20T, 20U and 20V, not shown are the UV exposingelements, and the automatic removal from the drum elements. Also notshown is the front part 112 that is hinged and that is designed to benddownwards. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 20A-20Y, the loading isassumed arranged so that the motion shown in FIGS. 20S, 20T, and 20Ucauses the plate to move into the gap between the (open) T-clamp and theouter surface of the drum. Those in the art will understand that this isa simplified version, and in one embodiment, the surface 106 includesthe tilting front part 112 as described above. The tilting is to lowerthe front edge of the plate because in the embodiments described inFIGS. 1-19, the drum is positioned so that a plate can be loaded fromthe loading area 106, and also so that the drum can be unloaded onto theunloading area 107 underneath the loading area 106. For this, the drumin the embodiments of FIGS. 1-19 is positioned lower than in the case ofthe loader of U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543, from which FIGS. 20A-20Y arederived. How to modify FIGS. 20A-20Y and the description to include thehinged part 112 and to accommodate the lower positioning of the drum forconsistency with FIGS. 1-19 would be clear to those in the art.

Continuing with the loading, the plate is moved until the plate edge isunder the T-clamp 113 as shown in FIG. 20V. The T-clamp 113 now closesto grip the plate 104 without also gripping the protective sheet 303because of the sheet's being held separated from the plate 104 at theplate edge by the grabber set of suction cups. FIG. 20W shows across-sectional view of the clamp 113 holding the plate 104 at the plateedge. FIG. 20X shows a perspective view of this stage of operation.

Once the plate edge is clamped to the drum, two actions occur. The firstaction is that the first mechanism 335 moves horizontally back to itshorizontal rest position close to being over the movable part 332. Thegrabber set of suction cups of the first mechanism 335 maintains holdonto the protective sheet 303 such that the sheet 303 is partiallypeeled away from the plate. The movement away from the clamp 113 isshown in FIG. 20Y.

The second motion is that the drum rotates, e.g., in the direction 323shown in FIG. 20Y and as described herein above. The rotation of thedrum with the plate clamped thereon while the grabber set of suctioncups still holds onto the protective sheet further removes theprotective sheet 303 from the top of the plate 104, while the plate 104is loaded onto the drum 103.

An anti-static device 325 in the form of a wire across width of thedevice is turned on during the motion to emit ionized air, and inparticular, ionized air that can reach the separation region between theplate and separated protective sheet and thus remove any staticelectricity built up, so that the removal is easier. Note that, as wouldbe known to those in the art, the source of electric supply to the wireis not shown, nor are the mechanical supports. Note also that in animproved embodiment, one or more blowers are included to ensure that theionized air reaches the region between the plate and separatedprotective sheet.

The first and second motion is coordinated. In one embodiment, thebackwards movement of the gripper/first mechanism 335 occurssimultaneously with the rotation of the drum.

The protective sheet is now transported to a trash compartment.

Note that FIG. 20A-20Y do not show many details, such as the mechanicalsupports for the first and second mechanisms, nor the motors that causethe actions to take place under control of the control system. Theparticular designs are now shown so as not to obscure the operation ofthe devices. Those in the art will find including such mechanismsstraightforward from the description provided herein.

In an alternate embodiment of the loading from a compartment asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,543, the compartment once at itsloading vertical position is moved to an intermediate horizontalposition prior to being moved to its loading horizontal position. At theintermediate horizontal position, there is a gap between the imager andthe magazine, and such gap is used to provide access to the bottom ofthe plate opposite the side whereon a protective sheet lays. Anautomatic plate mover automatically moves the plate horizontally fromthe compartment at the intermediate position to provide such access tothe bottom of the plate. At the intermediate position, the plate isrestrained on such bottom side, and while restrained, any protectivesheet on the plate is partially lifted and held. The compartment andplate are now further moved horizontally to the loading horizontalposition, and then the plate is further moved to an imager loadinghorizontal position, then onto the imager while the protective sheet isheld. As the plate is loaded onto the imager, the holding of theprotective sheet removes the protective sheet from the plate, such thatthe plate is loaded onto the imager without the protective sheet.

Not described herein are details of the control system 110. Those in theart will understand that by “under control of” and “configured to cause”mean that the control system outputs signals that cause motors andactuators to carry out the motions, and furthermore, that there aresensors that provide signals to the control system for suchfunctionality. Those in the art also will understand that such a controlsystem includes one or more programmable processors and a memorysubsystem that includes instructions that cause the motions and actionsdescribed herein. Not shown are the motors, sensors, and actuators thatwork in conjunction with the control system to cause the various motionsdescribed herein, and including such motors, sensors and actuators canbe carried out by those in the art given the description providedherein.

Note that in one embodiment, a T-clamp mechanism is used. Other clampingmechanisms may be used in alternate embodiments.

Note again that the method and mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No.7,000,543 is not from a stack, and uses a different mechanism than someof the other embodiments described herein. Furthermore, not allembodiments include the bending mechanism. Those of skill in the artwould be able to readily adapt the mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No.7,000,543 to be applicable to alternate embodiments of the presentinvention that include loading from a stack and/or that include thebending mechanism.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the unloading area 107 isarranged vertically beneath the loading area 106. In alternateembodiments, the loading and unloading areas can be arranged on oppositesides of the imager or other arrangements that allow a plate to besimultaneously on the loading area and another plate to besimultaneously at the unloading area.

Note that while the description herein has been for flexographicprinting plates, the invention is by no means limited to such anapplication and can be used for loading and/or unloading other types ofprinting plates to an imager. In general, the invention is applicable tomaking plates that include material that is curable by irradiation withultraviolet radiation. For example, the invention is also applicable toletterpress plates with a polymer coating thereon that is cured byexposure to UV radiation.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“calculating,” “determining” or the like, refer to the action and/orprocesses of a computer or computing system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented asphysical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities.

In a similar manner, the term “processor” may refer to any device orportion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registersand/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronicdata that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computer”or a “computing machine” or a “computing platform” may include one ormore processors.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughoutthis specification are not necessarily all referring to the sameembodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, inone or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description ofexample embodiments of the invention, various features of the inventionare sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, ordescription thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure andaiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventiveaspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than allfeatures of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claimsfollowing the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporatedinto this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some butnot other features included in other embodiments, combinations offeatures of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope ofthe invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood bythose in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of theclaimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Furthermore, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method orcombination of elements of a method that can be implemented by aprocessor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out thefunction. Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for carryingout such a method or element of a method forms a means for carrying outthe method or element of a method. Furthermore, an element describedherein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carryingout the function performed by the element for the purpose of carryingout the invention.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are setforth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown indetail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a commonobject, merely indicate that different instances of like objects arebeing referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects sodescribed must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, inranking, or in any other manner.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein arehereby incorporated by reference.

Any discussion of prior art in this specification should in no way beconsidered an admission that such prior art is widely known, is publiclyknown, or forms part of the general knowledge in the field.

In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the termscomprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that meansincluding at least the elements/features that follow, but not excludingothers. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should notbe interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or stepslisted thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a devicecomprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only ofelements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes orthat includes as used herein is also an open term that also meansincluding at least the elements/features that follow the term, but notexcluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and meanscomprising.

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in theclaims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to directconnections only. The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with theirderivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms arenot intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of theexpression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited todevices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connectedto an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between anoutput of A and an input of B which may be a path including otherdevices or means. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements areeither in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or moreelements are not in direct contact with each other but yet stillco-operate or interact with each other.

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be thepreferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other and further modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intendedto claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope ofthe invention. For example, any formulas given above are merelyrepresentative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may beadded or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may beinterchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted tomethods described within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for loading printing plates comprising: aframe; a drum imager including a rotatable drum and configured forimaging a plate; a loading area adjacent to the drum and configured tohold a single plate that is to be loaded onto the drum, the holding of ato-be-loaded plate being at a loading position; an unloading areaseparate from the loading area, and configured to hold a single plate;one or more sources of ultraviolet energy configured to irradiate aplate with ultraviolet radiation during one or both of loading of theplate and unloading of the plate; and a control system configured tocontrol: the loading of a particular plate from the loading positiononto the drum; the imaging of the loaded plate to form an imaged plate;the irradiation by one or more of the sources; and the unloading of theimaged plate onto the unloading area, such that a plate that includesmaterial that is curable by irradiation with ultraviolet radiation canbe irradiated by one or more of the sources of ultraviolet energy in anautomatic manner under control of the control system during one or bothof loading of the plate and unloading of the plate; wherein theapparatus is configured such that while one plate is positioned at theloading position on the loading area, another plate can be unloaded fromthe imager or be situated at the unloading area.
 2. An apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein the loading and unloading areas are arrangedin a manner that enables a first plate to be on the loading area whileanother plate is simultaneously at the unloading area.
 3. An apparatusas recited in claim 2, wherein each of the loading area and unloadingarea are approximately horizontal, and wherein the loading and unloadingareas are arranged vertically to each other.
 4. An apparatus as recitedin claim 3, wherein the plate is a flexographic plate, and wherein thecontrol system is arranged to automatically cause ultraviolet radiatingof the underside of the flexographic plate prior to imaging, andultraviolet radiating the top side of the plate after imaging, such thatwhile the underside of a first plate is being radiating in the loadingarea, a second plate is imaged, and a third plate is exposed on the topside in the unloading area.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein each of the loading area and unloading area is approximatelyhorizontal.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlsystem is configured such that one or more of the sources irradiates aplate by ultraviolet radiating automatically prior to a plates beingimaged.
 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlsystem is configured such that one or more of the sources irradiates aplate by ultraviolet radiating automatically after a plates is imaged.8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the control system isconfigured such that, during imaging of a particular plate on theimager, a next plate for loading onto the drum is moved onto the loadingarea.
 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plate is aflexographic plate, and wherein the control system is configured suchthat during imaging of a particular plate on the imager, a next platefor loading onto the drum is moved onto the loading area, and furtherthe underside of the next plate is irradiated by ultraviolet radiation.10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the control system isconfigured to carry out the loading, imaging, and unloading in apipeline manner that includes carrying out more than one respectiveoperation on respective plates at the same time.
 11. An apparatus asrecited in claim 10, wherein the control system is configured such thatone or more of preparing for the loading, including moving a first plateonto the loading area, continuing with the unloading, and/or theirradiating occurs while the next plate is imaged by the imager.
 12. Anapparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an automatic plateloader configured to automatically load a plate onto the loading area.